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OnPay vs Hive Payroll Comparison

Last updated:

OnPay

5.0(434 reviews)

Starting at $40 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

OnPay is an intuitive online payroll software designed to meet the needs of supervisors, managers, payroll specialists and people who manage pay for hourly or salaried staff. OnPay helps companies of all sizes reduce cos…

Hive Payroll

5.0(1 reviews)

Starting at $17 /month

  • Free Trial
  • Medium Business
  • Small Business

Hive Payroll is payroll software for single-site and multi-site businesses that need payslip generation, deductions management, and statutory compliance handled without separate tools for each function. It consolidates p…

Hive Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 1 reviews.

Spotsaas Analysis

OnPayHive Payroll

The core difference is that OnPay offers a comprehensive payroll solution tailored for small businesses with a focus on automation and support, while Hive Payroll's details are limited, making it less clear who it best serves. Ideal buyers for OnPay are small business owners and HR professionals managing payroll for 1-100 employees, whereas Hive Payroll may appeal to budget-conscious businesses seeking basic payroll services.

- Best for small businesses with 1-100 employees - Offers automated payroll processing - Excellent customer support - Ideal for various industries including healthcare and nonprofits - Reduces errors in payroll calculations - Priced at $40

- Pricing is budget-friendly at $17 - Details on company size and target market are unclear - May suit businesses looking for basic payroll services - Lacks comprehensive features compared to competitors - Limited information on support and automation - Potentially appealing for startups or freelancers

OnPay vs Hive Payroll — at a glance

FeatureOnPayHive Payroll
Rating5.0 / 55.0 / 5
Reviews4341
Starting price$40 /Month$17 /month
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessMedium Business, Small Business
CategoryPayroll SoftwarePayroll Software
Integrations10+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
API
Support modesBusiness Hours, OnlineOnline
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPRSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between OnPay and Hive Payroll

  • Pricing: OnPay starts at $40 /Month, while Hive Payroll starts at $17 /month.
  • Target audience: OnPay is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Hive Payroll targets Medium Business and Small Business.
  • User satisfaction: Hive Payroll scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
  • Deployment: OnPay supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Hive Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

OnPay vs Hive Payroll — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Payroll Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

OnPay - Payroll Software
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Hive Payroll
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OnPay vs Hive Payroll: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

OnPay

Best for small businesses seeking simple, automated payroll with excellent support.

Choose if
  • You run a small business with 1-100 employees needing straightforward payroll processing.
  • You want to automate payroll calculations and tax filings to reduce errors and save time.
  • You value exceptional, responsive customer service and easy integration with accounting tools.
Consider alternatives if
  • You are a large enterprise requiring complex payroll customizations and advanced features.
  • You need an all-in-one HR platform including recruitment or performance management.

Hive Payroll

Best for

Medium Business, Small Business

OnPay typically suits Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises. Hive Payroll tends to fit Medium Business and Small Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

OnPay is an intuitive online payroll software designed to meet the needs of supervisors, managers, payroll specialists and people who manage pay for hourly or salaried staff. OnPay helps ... Read More about OnPay

Hive Payroll is payroll software for single-site and multi-site businesses that need payslip generation, deductions management, and statutory compliance handled without separate tools for ... Read More about Hive Payroll

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $40
  • Starts from $17 , monthly

Free Trial Availability

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.4/10

7.8/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.96

(434)

Best Company Size

1-100 employeesSmall Business
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

OnPay

  • OnPay simplifies payroll processing, saving hours each week by automating calculations and filings—so you can focus on running your business.
  • With a user-friendly interface and intuitive dashboards, your team can easily manage payroll, benefits, and taxes without needing extensive training.
  • OnPay integrates smoothly with popular accounting tools, improving efficiency and eliminating manual data entry.
Best fit

Best fit

OnPay

  • 1-100 employees
  • Healthcare, SaaS, Consulting, Professional Services, Nonprofits, Financial Services, Marketing Agencies
  • HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, Office Managers, Finance Managers, Small Business Owners
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

OnPay

  • Users may explore alternatives if they require more advanced HR management features, such as extensive employee onboarding, robust benefit administration, or detailed performance tracking.
  • Companies seeking greater scalability might prefer alternatives that easily accommodate rapid growth, complex payroll structures, or increased employee counts without compromising system performance.
  • Businesses operating internationally or with global teams might consider alternatives offering broader international payroll support and compliance tools for multiple regions and currencies.

Software Demo

Demo

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How do OnPay and Hive Payroll Compare on Features?

Total Features

13 Features

6 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare OnPay and Hive Payroll on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $40
      • $17 , monthly

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Standard

        $17

        /month

        • Payroll

        • Payroll Processing

        • Leave Management

        Show more +

      • Premium

        $29

        /month

        • Payroll

        • Payroll Processing

        • Leave Management

        Show more +

      • Ultimate

        $46

        /month

        • Payroll

        • Payroll Processing

        • Leave Management

        Show more +

      Pricing Page

      OnPay pricing
      Hive Payroll pricing

      OnPay vs Hive Payroll: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      OnPay vs Hive Payroll Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      OnPay User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      379

      4

      2

      0

      1

      1

      0

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyers overwhelmingly praise OnPay for its ease of use, automation capabilities, and excellent customer support, especially among small businesses and nonprofits.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Automation of payroll and tax filings
      • Customer support quality

      Common complaints

      • Limited customization for complex payroll
      • Lack of broader HR features

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 1 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Hive Payroll is intuitively laid out, allowing even non-tech-savvy users to process payroll without a steep learning curve.
      • Supports end-to-end payroll functions including payslip generation and compliance with legal obligations.
      • Efficiently manages payroll across multiple locations, ideal for businesses with distributed teams.

      Common complaints

      • The visual layout could use modernization to enhance the overall user experience.
      • May not fully accommodate complex pay scales or non-standard compensation models.
      • No dedicated mobile app or optimized mobile interface limits flexibility for on-the-go payroll tasks.

      Pros and Cons

      • Intuitive design that simplifies payroll tasks for supervisors and managers

      • Automates payroll calculations and tax filings, reducing time and errors

      • Robust integration with popular accounting tools to eliminate manual data entry

      • Limited customization options for complex payroll needs in larger companies

      • Focuses solely on payroll, lacking broader HR functionalities like recruitment

      • Efficient payroll processing for multiple sites.

      • Simplifies statutory obligations for businesses.

      • Quick and easy payslip generation.

      • Customization may be limited for specific needs.

      • Lacks a mobile application for on-the-go access.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used OnPay or Hive Payroll? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Integrations

      Integration with other apps

      No Integration information available.

      OnPay and Hive Payroll Customers

      Customers

      BlueBird

      BlueBird

      Cartecay

      Cartecay

      Evergreen

      Evergreen

      No Customers information available.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      OnPay Dashboard

      7 Screenshots

      Hive Payroll

      4 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to OnPay and Hive Payroll in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, OnPay or Hive Payroll?
      Hive Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 5.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do OnPay and Hive Payroll offer a free trial?
      Yes, both OnPay and Hive Payroll offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of OnPay vs Hive Payroll?
      OnPay starts at $40 /Month. Hive Payroll starts at $17 /month.
      What are the top alternatives to OnPay?
      Top alternatives to OnPay include Square Payroll, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, Justworks.
      What are the top alternatives to Hive Payroll?
      Top alternatives to Hive Payroll include 247HRM, Paybooks, PayrollPanda, CheckMark Payroll, Heartland Payroll.